Dean headed over and started an exuberant conversation with what Jocelyn presumed were the members of his band. Jenna followed him. She looked over her shoulder once with a seemingly contented smile before climbing into the van behind Dean. The loud vehicle pulled away and disappeared moments later.
“You know, she’s not even my sister, but that was hard to watch.” Kendall draped an arm around her shoulder. “I’m surprised you didn’t insist she come with you.”
“That was never really my goal.”
“What will you tell your parents?”
“Don’t know yet. But that’s where I’m headed next.”
Logan turned to her. “I’ll go with you.”
Kendall said, “So will I.” His phone buzzed in his pocket and he retrieved it.
“What’s up, Zane?” After listening for only a few seconds, he closed his eyes. “I see. That’s disappointing.” His eyes opened, and he looked at Logan.
“I don’t imagine so, but I’ll ask him. Yes. Call you later.”
Logan watched with a wary expression. “What’s wrong now?”
“That was Zane. Through the lawyers he just got a copy of the article Reggie plans to publish tomorrow. It seems he has a firsthand account of an afterhours party we held years ago.”
“We never did that.”
“We did once.” He stared at Logan for a few more seconds and a dawning realization seemed to come over him. “Fuck. Are you kidding? That was private. Before we even opened the park to the public.”
“And yet apparently, Reggie has acquired pictures to go along with his article.”
“Pictures? Where did he get pictures?”
Kendall remained silent for a long time before he sighed. “Don’t make me say her name, Logan. I promised you a long time ago that I wouldn’t ever utter it again.”
Logan’s eyes slammed shut. “Please fucking tell me that Brittney didn’t provide the pictures she swore to me she didn’t have.”
“Sorry. Unfortunately, that’s the source Reggie named.”
“Why would she fucking do that after all this time?”
Jocelyn put a hand out and stroked Logan’s arm. He startled as if he’d forgotten she was there. “Who is Brittney?”
“My ex-fiancée,” Logan answered. The tone of his voice was utterly dejected. He shook his head. “Actually, that’s not true. We were never engaged. I asked her to marry me, but she put me off when she only knew me as the up-and-coming stable master for the Old West Town park. She only agreed to the wedding after discovering how much money I had. Then she agreed to marry me, but by then I’d heard her tell a good friend she’d never marry a two-bit stable master with no prospects. She wanted to marry for money. I decided not to give her any of mine, and rescinded my offer of marriage.”
“I’m so sorry. I wish there was something I could do to help.”
Logan turned to her and pushed close. “Not unless you can erase my idiotic past.”
Jocelyn wrapped her arms around him and gave Kendall an inquisitive look. Kendall just looked troubled. He added, “Looks like I need to head back home. Guess I’ll have to meet your parents another time.”
“Trust me, you’re lucky to escape.” She pulled away from Logan and hugged Kendall.
He kissed her hard on the mouth. “I’ll miss you, Jocelyn. I’ve discovered that I really hate it when you’re out of my sight.” He kissed her again, like he couldn’t get enough.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it is. So hurry back.”
“I love you, Kendall. Someday soon, I’d like to discuss what you expect for our future. My business will be fairly easy to move. If, say, I wanted to relocate to Montana, for example.”
He kissed her again. Deeply, intoxicatingly. “I’m delighted to learn that you
want
a future with us.”
Jocelyn laughed. “Well, I do. Being with the two of you is the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. And seeing Jenna follow the boy she loves made me realize I want to follow a couple of boys, too. I just have a few responsibilities to wrap up first. Not the least of which is a long-overdue conversation with my parents about how things are going to be from now on.”
Kendall hoped that overdue talk didn’t change her mind about joining them in Montana for a relationship he’d never even contemplated having until this moment.
* * * *
Logan drove them back to the airport in the SUV. Kendall took a commercial flight back to Montana, while he and Jocelyn continued on to her home in his private jet. After landing at the local airport, they rented another vehicle, and headed to her place before the coming visit to her parents’ house. He was anxious to see where Jocelyn lived. Plus, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to contain his anger if her father exhibited the same attitude as he had over the phone. Logan needed some time to prepare to be calm in the face of difficult attitudes.
They stopped for a quick meal at a steakhouse near the airport. Then Jocelyn drove them to her condo. It was a pricy-looking upscale high-rise with what looked like a concierge desk just inside the main entrance and a curbside valet service.
“Hello, Ms. Demarco. New car?” asked the guy with the big grin who took her keys.
“Nope just a rental. Don’t put it too far away, Alex, I’ll be back in an hour or so to get it.”
“No problem, Ms. Demarco.”
Logan followed her to the door. “A valet to park your car,
and
a concierge. It’s like you’re rich or something.”
She laughed. “Not to brag, but I do pretty well.”
“I’d say so.”
The man behind the entry desk was on the phone, but he smiled and waved at her as she walked by.
Jocelyn led them to the elevator and eighteen floors upward put them in a plush hallway with only four doors. Walking to the far left door, Logan felt a bit underdressed for her building.
They stepped inside her well-appointed, large, sleek, and very modern apartment. “I feel like I should wipe my feet and avoid touching anything.”
She laughed. “Oh please. Like your house isn’t a mansion.”
“Still. This is really nice. Sleek, modern, clean. Awesome entertainment center. I like it.”
“Thanks.” He followed her into the kitchen. She grabbed him a bottle of water, and pointed to the half bath in the hallway.
“I just have to be on my computer for like an hour, maybe an hour and a half tops. And then I’m going to pack a few things. Can you entertain yourself for that long?”
He looked at her impressive seventy-inch-wide flat-screen television in the adjacent living room once more. “Absolutely. Get me the remote to that nice state-of-the-art piece of equipment over there, and I’ll stay out of your hair for as long as you want.”
“Done.” She found the remote, gave it to him along with a sweet kiss, and disappeared down the hall.
He skipped around the channels until he found the grouping of sports networks and indulged in a football game. He lost total track of time, because the next thing he knew she ruffled the top of his head. “Sorry to be so long.”
Logan glanced at the time, not realizing it had been almost three hours.
“I’ve put off visiting my parents long enough.”
“Okay.”
She paused with a pensive expression. “You don’t have to go with me, Logan. I don’t expect this to be a very happy meeting.”
He shrugged. “Maybe if I’m there, it won’t be as contentious.”
“I wouldn’t count on that, but thanks for the willingness to step into the lion’s den with me.”
Less than half an hour later, they arrived at her parents’ modest home in the suburbs. She took a deep breath and they headed for the front porch.
The front door was snatched open the moment they stepped onto the small staircase.
“I don’t see Jenna with you,” said the voice Logan had heard on the phone. Had that been only this morning?
Jocelyn walked toward the entryway. Logan stayed on her heels all the way into a tidy, if fifties-sitcom-like American living room. He wouldn’t have been surprised to hear the theme song from
Leave It to Beaver
playing in the background.
“Who’s this you’ve brought with you?” her father asked.
She turned to him. “Dad, this is Logan Pearson. Logan, this is my dad, Frank Demarco.”
“Sir,” Logan said, and offered his hand.
Her father eyed him warily for a moment, but shook his hand firmly.
Across the space, an older woman very much resembling Jocelyn came into the room.
“Jocelyn, you’re back.”
“Logan, this is my mother, Joanna. Mom, this is Logan.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” he said politely, but didn’t get a chance to say more.
Mr. Demarco turned his complete attention to Jocelyn, ignoring him as if Logan and any further introductions or social niceties were no longer important. “Where’s Jenna? Why isn’t she with you? You’re not going to tell me that you couldn’t find her, are you? You were the one who went to Montana when I told you it was a complete waste of time. I told you to go to New York, but you wouldn’t listen.”
“I found her,” Jocelyn broke into her father’s seemingly growing rant.
“What?” Her father gave her a disparaging look. He searched the space behind her as if he’d somehow possibly missed Jenna hiding behind Jocelyn. Suddenly, he raised his arms. “Well, then where is she?”
“She didn’t want to come home. She’s happy where she is.”
“I don’t care if she
thinks
she’s happy with that lowlife musician. She doesn’t know what’s best for her.
I
know what’s best for her. She needs—”
“She’s not coming home, Dad. And it doesn’t matter how much you rant and rave. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but she’s decided to stay with Dean.”
Jocelyn’s mother bowed her head and seated herself in a chair as if the news of Jenna’s life plan was too much to bear.
“That is unacceptable.” Her father pointed to the door. “You get your butt back out there and bring her home like I told you to.”
“No. I’m done chasing after Jenna. She’s enjoying her life and I don’t intend to hound her any longer.”
“Do not contradict me, Jocelyn. I don’t care who you brought with you, I won’t stand for your sassy mouth.”
Logan took a half a step forward. “I think you should relax and listen to what Jocelyn is saying.”
Her father frowned and turned to him. “Why would you think your opinion matters here? Who are you again?”
“I’m the man who wants to marry your daughter. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to meet you today. I’d like your blessing.”
Jocelyn’s mother snapped out of her seeming torment, and stood up with eyes as wide as saucers. Out of the corner of his eye, Logan saw Jocelyn also turn toward him with a surprised expression.
Mr. Demarco made a humph noise. “Is that so? Well, this should be good.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “And how do you make your living, Mr. Pearson?”
“Currently, I work as a stable master at a Western theme park in Montana. I’m pretty good with horses, and the work is very satisfying for me.”
Her father’s immediate look of disapproval told Logan exactly how the direction of this conversation was about to go. Badly.
“I can see that both of my daughters have equally poor taste in men. One’s chasing after an unskilled musician, and one is in love with an impoverished cowpoke.” He shook his head, turned toward the ceiling as if seeking guidance, and then leveled a stern look Logan’s way. “And how do you expect to support Jocelyn as a stable hand at an amusement park? Huh? That can’t make you much money.”
Logan tilted his head. “Well, sir, Jocelyn has her own business, and quite frankly, I don’t think she needs or wants any financial support from me.”
“For the love of God, Jocelyn, he only wants you for your money. Are you too stupid to understand that?”
“Dad, stop it. Logan doesn’t need my money. And given how you’ve treated him, I can’t believe he still wants to marry me.”
Logan turned to her, took one hand, and stared deeply into her beautiful green eyes. “But I do want to marry you. I love you like I’ve never loved anyone before in my lifetime. So will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me, Jocelyn?” Logan, heart in his hands, asked.
The tears welling in her eyes told him she was sincere when she said, “I
will
marry you. I love you so much.” She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tight in further persuasion. He started to hug her in return, but forgot one thing. He pulled back.
“Wait, I have something for you. If you want it. If not, I’ll buy you whatever you want.”
“What is it?”
He pulled a small gold envelope from his inner jacket pocket. He’d retrieved the family heirloom engagement ring before they left for Las Vegas, knowing that he wanted to give it to Jocelyn.
“I almost gave this to the wrong woman ten years ago. And I swear it never went on her finger, she wanted something grander. But this was my grandmother’s ring when she married my grandfather. If you’ll let me, I’d like to put it on your finger.” Logan handed her the old-fashioned ring. “However, if you’d rather have something more modern, I’ll understand.”